Italy Considers Joining New International Force in Southern Lebanon to Monitor Hezbollah Disarmament

Negotiations involving Israel, Lebanon, and the United States are ongoing in Rome as part of efforts to disarm Hezbollah and establish a security arrangement enabling Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon. A key development is Italy's consideration of joining a proposed new international force tasked with overseeing a pilot program where the Lebanese army replaces Israeli forces in the south, ensuring the area remains free of Hezbollah presence.

According to a source familiar with the talks, Italy has been invited to participate alongside other "serious countries" in this force, which is expected to be more robust and politically influential than the current UNIFIL mission, whose mandate expires at the end of the year. The new force could be deployed soon and is anticipated to include thousands of troops from participating nations, including Italy.

This initiative aims to succeed where UNIFIL has faced criticism for its limited ability to counter Hezbollah. The diplomatic hope is that Hezbollah will disarm voluntarily, potentially eliminating the need for the international force. Italy's involvement is significant given its longstanding engagement in Lebanon and its status as a close European ally of Israel, despite recent diplomatic tensions and Italy's temporary suspension of a security agreement with Israel.

The talks in Rome represent the second round of negotiations, focusing on Hezbollah's disarmament and a security framework to facilitate Israeli withdrawal while neutralizing threats to Israel. Italy's potential participation in the new force underscores its influential role in the region and the broader international effort to stabilize southern Lebanon.